Avengers #261
Earth and Beyond!
Secret Wars II continues from Rom #72….
In the aftermath of the war against Nebula, Skrull General Zedrao and his men come to terms with the fact that his people have lost their shape-changing powers.[1] All that is left is trying to figure out what to do with Sanctuary II, the former starship of the late Thanos.[2] However, Starfox — Thanos’ brother — has already thought of this and set the ship to implode upon itself, destroying it and preventing the Skrulls from adding it to its armada. Although General Zedrao is thankful for the Avengers assistance in fighting Nebula, he recommends they leave before his soldiers mutiny over the destruction of Sanctuary II. Firelord, however, doesn’t trust that the Skrulls won’t stab them in the back, but the Wasp tells him to shut up since he didn’t do much to help the situation.
The Avengers and Firelord then depart in Starfox’s ship and head back to Earth via sub-space.[3] While the other Avengers relax after their long battle, Captain America worries about the “One From Beyond” that Firelord and Starfox encountered. He worries that this is the Beyonder and wonders if the nigh-omnipotent entity will be a threat to the Earth.[4] On the trip, Starfox announces to the team that he has decided to leave the Avengers to track down Nebula, explaining that he wants to investigate her claim that she is the granddaughter of Thanos.[5] While the Avengers are sad to see Starfox go, they understand his need to find answers. However, Eros will not be going on his mission alone as Firelord has decided to tag along if only to avenge Nebula’s attack on his home world of Xandar.
With that, the Avengers depart in their Quinjet out of sub-space to make the final leg of their journey back to Earth. Once they arrive, Captain Marvel takes off for New Orleans to assure her parents that she is alive and well after being missing for over two weeks.[6] Frank and Maria Rambeau were worried sick about their daughter and are pleased to see Monica has returned home safe.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Avengers return to the mansion where they are greeted by Jarvis. The team’s butler had an encounter with the Beyonder who had come to the mansion looking for them and he found himself compelled to tell the powerful being where they were located. He then explains how the Beyonder teleported away only to return moments later depressed over screwing things up.[7] This confirms to Captain America that the man they encountered was the Beyonder. However, this takes a back seat to a letter that the Avengers have received by the Federal Aviation Administration who is revoking an exemption that allows the team to operate their Quinjets from the mansion.[8]
When Captain America and the Wasp go to meet with a representative with the FAA, they are told that they must find a suitable place to dock their Quinjets outside of Manhattan within the next 30 days. The meeting is interrupted when the Beyonder suddenly teleports into the room. When Cap tries to convince the alien to talk to them, the Beyonder decides to run away, telling them that he will only speak with them if they can catch him.[9] Working together, Captain America and the Wasp quickly trip up the Beyonder who decides to try harder and teleports away.
He re-appears at Project PEGASUS where the Black Knight and Hercules are meeting with scientists to develop a machine that can track the Beyonder’s energy signature.[11] When Hercules tries to restrain the Beyonder, he unleashes a powerful bot of energy that punches a hole in the side of the mountain PEGASUS rests upon. When the Black Knight tries to attack, the Beyonder makes a bunch of sword weilding arms grow out of the floor. Dane quickly cuts through these arms prompting the Beyonder to create a sword of his own and fight the Knight directly. During the fight the Beyonder intentionally runs himself through the Black Knight’s Ebony Blade. Finding the experience peculiar, the Beyonder teleports away again to see what other experiences he can gain from interacting with the Avengers.
Later, the Avengers regroup at the mansion and compare notes over their encounters with the Beyonder. When Hercules boasts about what he intends to do when they meet next, the Beyonder suddenly appears to find out. Hercules strikes the omnipotent being with his hardest blow which sends the Beyonder flying up into the upstairs airplane hanger, igniting barrels of jet fuel. Luckily, the mansion’s sprinkler systems quickly put out the blaze. When the Avengers catch up with the Beyonder, Captain America suggests they try reasoning with the alien rather than fighting him. They learn that the Beyonder only wishes to understand the nature of human desire, something that he has been struggling with since arriving on Earth. The Wasp then surprises everyone when she suggests that the Beyonder become an Avenger-in-training. Janet points out that they can’t really stop someone as powerful as the Beyonder and that making him an Avenger might allow them to at least keep an eye on him and guide him.
While the Beyonder is flattered by the offer he realizes that there is so much more to experience in the world. He then uses his power to repair the damage done to the mansion and then teleports away, telling the Avengers that they will meet again. Although the Beyonder appears to be good natured, the team worries what someone of such tremendous power might be capable of doing. Grimly, Captain America expresses his concern that the Beyonder could potentially become a threat to all existence.
… Secret Wars II continues in Secret Wars II #5.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Wasp, Black Knight, Hercules, Starfox, Captain Marvel), Beyonder, Firelord, General Zedrao, Frank Rambeau, Maria Rambeau, Edwin Jarvis
Continuity Notes
The battle with Nebula took place in Avengers #259-260, while the Skrulls lost their shapeshifting abilities in Avengers Annual #14. This will remain the status quo until Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #25.
Thanos is referred to as deceased here. He died in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2, but he will be resurrected in Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #34.
The Black Knight finds sub-space unlike many of his adventures through time and other dimensions. He is referring to the time his spirit was sent back in time to inhabit the body of his 12th Century ancestor from Defenders #4 until Avengers #226.
Captain America has reason to worry after seeing the Beyonder’s power in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1-12 and, more recently, in Secret Wars II #1.
Nebula made this claim in Avengers #260. This was later refuted by Thanos himself in Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #38. Nebula has also claimed she is the daughter of Zorr, in Nova (vol. 2) #1. Silver Surfer Annual #5 reveals that her father was a blue-skinned alien with a ridged chin but his name is unrevealed. Gamora #1-5 reveals that Nebula apparently was briefly adopted by Thanos, however many details surrounding these circumstances are, as of this writing in September 2021, unexplained.
Captain Marvel has been absent from Earth since Avengers #252 when the Vision sent her on a mission to investigate Sanctuary II, which led to her getting shanghaied by Nebula and her crew.
The Beyonder came seeking the Avengers for advice in Secret Wars II #3, leading to him inadvertedly teleporting Nebula and her minions across the galaxy in Avengers #260. This angered the Avengers prompting the Beyonder to disappear with his omnipotent dick tucked between his legs for screwing shit up.
At the time of this story, the government has been reorganizing their relationship with the Avengers after the Vision briefly took over the world’s computers. See Avengers #252-255.
The Beyonder confirms that he recently met Captain America in California. This, again, happened in Secret Wars II #1. A footnote here also states they met in Captain America #308. That’s not entirely accurate. The Beyonder was secretly following Cap and molded his current appearance after the hero, but Cap was unaware of this at the time.
Here it is mentioned how the Avengers recently saved Project PEGASUS from the threat of the Lava Men as well as various super-villain escapees led by Moonstone. See Avengers #236-237.
Topical References
The Beyonder is depicted in this story as mirroring the style of Michael Jackson had in the mid-80s during his Thriller period. While one could consider this esthetic look as being a topical reference, later flashbacks featuring the Beyonder from this period still have him dressed as an 80s fashion reject. I would argue that his appearance is not a topical reference at all, but a product of his not really understanding human fashion trends. It would add to his bizarre attempts at fitting in if he glommed onto a dated fashion trend.
Secret Wars II Reading Order
Secret Wars II #1, New Mutants #30, Captain America, #308, Uncanny X-Men #196, Iron Man #197, Secret Wars II #2, Web of Spider-Man #6, Amazing Spider-Man #268, Fantastic Four #282, Secret Wars II #3, Daredevil #223, Incredible Hulk #312, Avengers #260, Secret Wars II #4, Dazzler #40, Alpha Flight #28, Rom #72, Avengers #261, Secret Wars II #5, Thing #30, Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #74, Fantastic Four #285, Secret Wars II #6, Cloak and Dagger (vol. 2) #4, Power Pack #18, Micronauts (vol. 2) #16, Thor #363, Power Man and Iron Fist #121, Secret Wars II #7, New Mutants #36, Amazing Spider-Man #273, Spectacular Spider-Man #111, Uncanny X-Men #202, Defenders #152, Secret Wars II #8, New Mutants #37, Amazing Spider-Man #274, Avengers #265, Uncanny X-Men #203, Fantastic Four #288, Secret Wars II #9, Avengers #266
